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[pct-l] Bear Cans in Yosemite



What I don't understand is the requirement for bear canisters if you go over
9600 ft. Bears typically never go that high. There isn't any food up there
for them. When attending a Tuolumne Meadows ranger talk, we heard the ranger
say bears rarely went over 6000-7000 ft. in the Sierras.  And then, only
where there were huge campsites.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Courtway" <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>
To: "Christopher Willett" <chwillet@indiana.edu>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 11:34 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Cans in Yosemite


> it's only 11 miles from donahue to tuolomne meadows, so if you can make 23
> miles from donahue past Tuolomne, or camp at Tulomne meadows, it seems you
> won't legally need a bear can summer '04 if you don't camp btwx glenn pass
> and Woods Creek crossing either.   Pretty clear hahaha.
>
> s.c.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Christopher Willett" <chwillet@indiana.edu>
> To: "Steve Courtway" <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>
> Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 10:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Cans in Yosemite
>
>
> > This is what makes the process so frustrating for people.  Rules are
> > not uniform and seem to change depending on who you talk to.
> > I was never able to get the story straight and still don't know
> > it completely. Here, however, are some comments on the rules for
> > SEKI and Yosemite.  Pay attention to the fact that these places
> > are not Inyo or the Ansel Adams.
> >
> > Take a look at the SEKI website and peek around a bit until you come
> > across:
> >
> > http://www.nps.gov/seki/bear_bc.htm
> >
> > There you are presented with three ways to properly store your food:
> >
> > Quote:
> >
> > Plan ahead to store food in one of these three ways, listed in order of
> > effectiveness:
> >
> >    1. Rent or buy National Park Service-tested bear-resistant portable
> > food canisters (available at markets and most park visitor centers).
> > Canisters are by far the preferred method of food storage throughout the
> > backcountry. They are required on the Rae Lakes Loop and in Dusy Basin
> > (both in Kings Canyon National Park) from the Friday of Memorial Day in
> > May through October 31.
> >
> >    2. When available, camp at an area with a metal storage box. Keep in
> > mind that you must share these food boxes with other hikers; locks are
not
> > permitted on them. Carry rope for hanging food in case the box is full
or
> > you don't camp where you intended.
> >
> >    3. Carefully hang food by the counter-balance method. Only use this
> > option if the others are not available, and practice it before your
trip!
> >
> > Un-quote
> >
> > Note option 3.  No restrictions or other qualifiers.  Note the last line
> > in option 2.  Note that Rae Lakes is on the PCT.
> >
> > I'm sure a search of the website further would produce documents saying
> > something different.
> >
> > Alright, lets check out what Yosemite has to say.  At
> >
> > http://www.nps.gov/yose/wilderness/bfoodstorage.htm
> >
> > we see that
> >
> > Quote:
> >
> > Use of "bear canisters" is required in these locations:
> >
> >     * Little Yosemite Valley-Half Dome-Moraine Dome area
> >     * Rancheria Falls area
> >     * High Sierra Camps
> >     * Above 9,600 feet
> >     * Beginning in summer 2004, bear canisters are likely to become
> > required within approximately 15 miles of trailheads. If/when this
> > regulation takes effect, a map showing areas in the park where canisters
> > are required will be added to this web page.
> >
> > Unquote. Note that you drop below the 9600 ft level rapidly after coming
> > over Donahue Pass into the park.  When you leave Tuolumne, you break the
> > 9600 ft level a few times.  So, to be completely legal, you'd have to
> > avoid camping in these areas. Note that the PCT goes by at least one
> > of the High Sierra Camps right after leaving Tuolumne.
> >
> > The document continues with:
> >
> > Quote:
> >
> > Although the counter-balance method of food storage is permitted in some
> > areas of the park, it is strongly discouraged due to its lack of
> > effectiveness and the damage that is caused to trees by persistant
bears.
> > If you choose to store your food using this technique, consider it only
a
> > delaying tactic. Be prepared to actively defend your food and repeatedly
> > scare bears out of your camp through the night. Without this negative
> > reinforcement, bears will figure out a way to get your counter-balanced
> > food - some bears will go so far as to literally chew the branch off the
> > tree to get at food bags. Help Keep Yosemite's Bears Wild - Use a
> > Bear-Resistant Canister!
> >
> > Each year, bears outinely obtain properly hung food!
> >
> > Unquote.
> >
> > So, the official park websites for both places discourage the use of
> > hanging food, but do not declare it to be illegal except in certain
> > circumstances noted above.  Of course, I'm sure someone will find
> > other documents contradicting these ones.
> >
> > Suge
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 9 Mar 2004, Steve Courtway wrote:
> >
> > > just as it's illegal to be riding bicycles on the Pacific Crest Trail,
> it is
> > > also illegal to hike in Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon
National
> > > Park without properly storing your food.  Hanging and stealth camping
> don't
> > > count.  heh.
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Christopher Willett
> > Department of Mathematics
> > Indiana University
> > 831 East Third Street
> > Bloomington, IN. 47405-7106
> > (812)-855-1448
> > chwillet@indiana.edu
> > mypage.iu.edu/~chwillet
>
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